Syracuse, N.Y. -- Verizon is offering its fiber-optic FiOS service only in wealthier areas of Onondaga County and other parts of New York, bypassing poorer urban and rural areas, a union representing Verizon workers charged today.

The Communications Workers of America issued a report and launched a television advertising campaign today to protest a proposed deal between Verizon Wireless and cable TV operators Comcast, Time Warner, Cox and Bright House Networks.

Under the proposal, which the Federal Communications Commission is considering, the cable companies would sell wireless capacity to Verizon Wireless and would market Verizon's wireless service together with their cable, phone and Internet packages.

The CWA says the deal would deter expansion of Verizon’s FiOS network, killing 25,000 jobs in New York - including jobs of CWA-represented employees - and giving poorer urban consumers fewer choices and higher prices for TV, phone, and internet service.

The CWA report includes a map of Onondaga County that indicates Verizon is only offering its FiOS service to the northern suburbs and villages of Skaneateles and Fayetteville.

Verizon spokesman John Bonomo said Verizon is focusing on expanding FiOS cable TV service to municipalities in New York that have cable agreements with Verizon. Verizon does not have a cable agreement with Syracuse, he noted.

He noted that Verizon offers high-speed internet service throughout Syracuse, but it is not on Verizon's fiber-optic network.

He said Verizon provides FiOS service in many communities that are not wealthy.

"Verizon Wireless has made a persuasive case that the marketing agreements with the cable companies are strongly in the public interest. We believe these agreements will enhance competition, allowing Verizon Wireless to take market share from other wireless companies, while allowing cable companies to more vigorously compete by enabling them to offer wireless services as part of a triple or quad-play package of services. As a result of these enhanced offers, Verizon believes consumers will benefit with a variety of new packages and services."

The CWA called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to join its protest of the proposed Verizon deal with the cable companies.

"As a result of the Verizon/cable joint marketing agreements, we fear that Verizon will never build its FiOS network in our cities, " the mayors wrote.

The CWA report also warned of job cuts by Verizon at its Syracuse-area FiOS customer support call center. In the last four years, the workforce at the Syracuse Fiber Solutions Center has shrunk from 386 to 262 workers, it said.